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In the U.S., over 100 million people reportedly suffer from some form of chronic pain. Living with pain on a daily basis can become intolerable. There are three different pain syndromes, which are the cause of most individual’s chronic discomfort: Neuropathic, somatic and visceral pain syndromes.
Neuropathic pain syndromes are related to disorders such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, CRPS, Lyme disease and migraines to name a few. Somatic pain is originated by an injury or trauma, such as neck and back pain, or spinal stenosis. Visceral pain is derived from pelvic, abdominal or thoracic organ and tissue pain; i.e. diverticulitis or chronic lung pain.
The Traditional Treatment leads to the Opioid Epidemic
The most common treatment for chronic pain is narcotics. Narcotics like Opioids are highly addictive, and our state is currently leading the country in abusing the drug and overdose episodes.
The Centers of Disease Control reports that nearly half of all opioid-related deaths are due to the narcotic being prescribed for pain related circumstances such as lower back pain, nerve and joint disorders, arthritis and spinal injury. They also estimate that 42,249 deaths annually are related to opioid overdose, and that number is on the rise.
A Better Alternative for Chronic Pain
Medical marijuana pain relief has become an increasingly popular treatment method. Patients have reported fewer side effects than conventional pain medications that have led to addiction or overdose. A study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, provides evidence to support that medical cannabis is as effective as opioids for treating pain. Many patients in the study reported using opioid medications in the past six months to reduce chronic pain. This study found that patients “overwhelmingly reported that cannabis provided relief on par with their other medications, but without the unwanted side effects.” Medical marijuana can help if you or a loved one suffer from chronic pain, especially if you are cautious about traditional pain medications and the negative side effects often associated with them.
How Does It Work
Our brain and nerve cells have cannabinoid receptors, so our bodies naturally react to cannabis (medical marijuana). The structure of cannabis interacts directly with our cells. Our natural endocannabinoid system works synergistically with medical marijuana (MM), creating a multitude of beneficial reactions in the body. The endocannabinoid cells have tiny receptors that take in chemicals and produce responses. This natural system in our bodies regulates things like pain-reception, mood, sleeping, immunity, pleasure, memory and more.
Medical marijuana is made up of THC, CBD, and terpenes. The CBD is known to bind to receptors and is thought to regenerate cells and brain function. THC helps to relax and alleviate the physical symptoms of pain and apprehension, while terpenes have healthy healing properties. There are different levels of MM, some with higher THC, and some with very low THC depending on the disease being treated.
The advantage of MM in treating a wide array of conditions from multiple disorders is hard to dispute. Many patients have suffered for years with chronic pain and have become dependent on narcotics. They have not had improvement in their pain or had the ability to stop taking narcotics. States where medical marijuana is legalized, report upwards of 1,800 fewer pain medications being prescribed each year.
In 2016, Florida voters passed Amendment 2, making medical marijuana legal in our state; and one of the most exciting developments has been a lift on the stay to ban smoking medical marijuana. Other available forms are oils, tinctures, vaping and edibles. Not all patients are the same, but certain conditions and diseases are more receptive to smokable Medical Marijuana like ALS, HIV, and neuropathy.
Currently, there are 12 medical conditions explicitly defined in the Florida medical marijuana initiative. However, the Florida marijuana law also states that any medical condition in which the medical marijuana doctor believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient may be used as criteria when certifying a patient for the Florida MM program.
Florida’s Qualifying Conditions
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV
• AIDS
• Seizures
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
• Crohn’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition
Amendment 2 Updates
Amendment 2 now allows physicians the authorization to recommend the Florida Medical Marijuana Card to patients who have been diagnosed with “a similar or other debilitating medical condition.”
• Anxiety
• Addison’s Disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraines
• Radiculopathy
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Peripheral Neuropathy
• Depression
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Lyme Disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Diabetes
You must visit a Physician that is licensed to recommend medical marijuana. It’s crucial for patients to seek out a highly qualified physician. The physicians at Omni Medical Services are the best in class for recommending medical marijuana for treatment. Having the right doctor will make the difference and help you get your Florida certification. Omni has over 7 years in the medical marijuana certification industry. In addition to Florida Omni has offices in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Omni has helped many patients that are suffering from chronic pain and medical marijuana has helped many people become pain-free without the use of narcotics. To find out more, please call 866-417-2002, or visit their website at OmniMedicalFL.com.
OMNI Medical Services
866-417-2002
www.omnimedicalfl.com